Device for disinfecting telephones, &amp;c.



N0. 643,399. Patented Feb. [3, 1900. W. H. TAYLUR. DEVICE FURDISINFECTING TELEPHUNES, 8L6.

' (Application filed Mar. 9, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

IN VE N TOR No. 643,309. Patented Feb. :3, won.

w. H. TAYLUB. I

DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING TELEPHUNES, 8w.

Application filed Mar. 9, 1899.)

(No Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOI'? WARREN H.

ATENT FFIQEQ TAYLOR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR DISINFECTING TELEPHONES, $00.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,309, dated February13, 1900..

Application filed March 9, 1899.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN H. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Stamford, in the county of 'Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices forDisinfecting Telephones and other Similar Instrumen ts,of which thefollowingis a specification.

The present invention comprises a cap or cover for a tubular mouth orear piece of a speaking instrument having a hollow resilient handleprojecting from the top of the same and a nose-piece or holdercontaining a disinfectant material, such nose-piece projecting from theunder side of said cover. The inner end of the handle opens into thenose-piece or holder, whereby a current of air is passed through thedisinfecting material in the act of grasping the handle to remove thecap, thereby carrying or forcing the disinfectant into the mouthpiece ofthe telephone or other speaking instrument, thus keeping it clean andwholesome.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a telephone with myattachment in place. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through theattachment. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the nose-piece of the same.Fig. 4 represents a tablet or lozenge of disinfecting material. Fig. 5is a vertical central section of a modified form of cap secured to themouthpiece of a telephone, said mouthpiece being broken away. Fig. 6 isa similar view of another form of my invention Fig. 7 is a verticalcentral section of the construction shown in Fig. 6 detached from thetelephonemouthpiece and open.

1 represents a telephone-cabinet of improved construction,and 2 thetubular mouthpiece of the same.

3 is the cap or cover, adapted to fit snugly over the outer end of themouthpiece, whereby dust and other foreign matter are excluded from saidmouthpiece. Said cap or cover is provided with a central annulardepression 4, in the center of which is formed an opening 5. 6 is onemember of a bayonet-joint formed around said depression 4:.

7 is a hollow bulb forming a handle for removing or replacing the coveron the mouthpiece. The inner end of the bulb is provided Serial No.7083M. (No model.)

with a neck 8, which fits snugly and air-tight within the opening 5,formed in the annular depression 1.

9 is a hollow nose-piece or holder which is provided with narrow slots10 or other perforations and contains an absorbent cotton fiber 11,witha tablet orlozenge 12 of disinfect ant material of an antiseptic nature,which has sufficient aromatic properties to cause it to saturate any airthat may pass through or over it. This may consist of formaldehyde,formalin, carbolic acid, wood-alcohol, camphor, ammonia, and carbids,the formation of which will produce a tablet which will airslack orvaporize by subjecting it to a current of air. The nose-piece isprovided with one member of a bayonet-joint, adapted to interlock withthe other member of the joint formed on the annular depression 4 on thecap or cover, whereby said nose-piece is removably attached to saidcover. Of course it is obvious that the nose-piece and cover may bescrewed together or held together by any other well-known means. It Willbeseen from Fig. 2 that the rubber-bulb handle communicates directlywith the nose-piece or holder.

13 is a suitable chain or other support by means of which the cap orcover is secured to the telephone.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modified form of cap or cover wherein thecap comprises a plate 14, around which is an annular depend ing flange15 of a shape similar to the outline of the mouthpiece of a telephone orother speaking instrument, said plate having an annular depressedportion 16, which is provided with suitable perforations 17, said platelet being surmounted by a plate 18, the outer edge of which is bentupwardly, then inwardly, as at 19, thereby forming a groove around thecircumference of said plate, the said plate being provided with suitableper forations 20 and secured to the plate 14 by rivets 21 or othersuitable means. 22 is a resilient bulbous covering the edges of whichare firmly secured within an annular groove around the plate 18. 23represents suitable antiseptic material secured in the space formedbetween the plates 18 and 14 by the depression 16. It is obvious thatthe plates 14. and 18 may be secured together in such manner that theymay readily be separated for the purpose of renewing the antisepticmaterial held between the same.

In Fig. 6 I have shown still another form of cap or cover wherein 24: isa skeleton frame from which project fingers or clamps adapted to be bentaround the outside of the mouthpiece of a telephone, thereby securingsaid frame to said mouthpiece. 25 is a plate hinged at one end to theframe 24 and provided with a central annular depression 26 andperforations 27. 28 is a flat perforated plate secured on top of theplate 25 and bent upward at its edges at 29 to form a groove entirelyaround the same. 30 is a resilient or bulbous member the edges of whichare firmly secured within the groove formed around the edge of the plate28. 31 is a suitable disinfectant or antiseptic material secured betweenthe plates 28 and 26.

It is evident that the purpose of this device is to prevent the spreadof disease by parties using telephones and also to keep the mouthpieceof the telephone or speaking-tube in a clean condition.

In use the cap is attached to the telephonecabinet by a chain or othersuit-able means. When it is desired to use a telephone or speaking-tube,the cap is removed by grasping the bulb handle 7, which is compressed bythe hand, thereby forcing a body of air through the disinfecting tabletor material, thence through the absorbent cotton, from which it escapesin small jets through the perforations 10 as medicated air into andaround the inner portion of the mouthpiece, thereby disinfecting thesame and killing any germs of disease that may have lodged in saidmouthpiece.

The operation of the construction shown in Fig. 5 is substantially likethat described with reference to Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6 the cap or cover is not entirely removed from the mouthpiece.hen it is desired to use the phone the thumb would be placed under thelower portion of the plate 28, and the fingers of the hand wouldnaturally be placed upon the bulb 30, and in swinging the cover up, asin Fig. 7, the bulb would be compressed by the fingers, therebyautomatically forcing a body of air through the perforations in theplate 28 into the disinfecting material 31, from which it passes throughthe perforations 27 in the plate 26 into and around the inner portion ofthe mouthpiece, the combined plates 28 and 26 and the bulb 30 beingswung back out of the way, thereby leaving the mouthpiece free for use.

It will be noted from the several views of the drawings that thenose-piece or holder projects some distance into the mouthpiece of thespeaking instrument, thus insuring a thorough distribution of themedicated air throughout all portions of the said mouthpiece.

The medical fraternity lay a great deal of stress on disease germs beingcarried or conveyed through contact with insects (flies particularly)and also dust, the dust forming a bed or convenient element as aresting-placenot only as a resting-place, but in traveling with the dustwhen the dust is disturbed or blown out of its corner, as might be thecase from a mouthpiece. Thus the excluding of dust, flies, or otherinsects from such monthpiece is very essential.

I do not Wish to limit myself to a removable cover, as I may construct acover so that instead of removing it a slide or disk could be moved orrotated on the cover, so as to bring the openings in line with oneanother for the purpose of talking through them.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Incombination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, a removable capapplied to the end thereof, a disinfectant secured in said cap and meansfor expressing the disinfectant from the cap in the act of removing thecap.

2. In combination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, a cap tocover the same, a perforated receptacle in the cap for holding adisinfectant, a hollow resilient handle secured to the cap andcommunicating with said receptacle.

3. In combination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, a coverfor the same, a holder connected to and removable with the cover andprojecting inside of the mouthpiece and containing an antisepticmaterial or disinfectant and means for forcing said material into themouthpiece when the cover is removed.

4. In combination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, theremovable cover, a disinfectant-holder or nose-piece, removably attachedto the cover, and extending into said mouthpiece.

5. In combination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, aremovable cover for the same, a nose-piece or holder removably securedto the cover, a lozenge or tablet,containing disinfectant ingredientssecured in said nose-piece or holder and means for admitting air to beforced through or around said tablet into the said mouthpiece.

6. In combination with a mouthpiece of a speaking instrument, a coverfor the same, a nose-piece or holder removably secured to the cover, anantiseptic material secured in said nose-piece and means for forcing airthrough or around said antiseptic material into the mouthpiece.

7. A mouthpieceof tubular form for speaking instruments containing adisinfecting or deodorizing tablet or lozenge, so located with referenceto the mouthpiece that the tablet when in place is forward of the frontedge or inside of the opening to the said mouthpiece.

8. The combinatiomwith the cover of a telephone or other speakinginstrument; of a hollow flexible handle, and deodorizing materialcontiguous to the mouthpiece and cover, for

the purpose of deodorizing or keeping the mouthpiece fumigated.

9. The combination, with the cover and mouthpiece of a telephone orother speaking instrument; of a hollow flexible handle, and deodorizingmaterial located between the cover and mouthpiece, for the purpose ofdeodorizing or keeping the mouthpiece fumigated.

10. The combination, With the cover and mouthpiece of telephones orother'speaking instruments, of a tablet, or evanescent material, ordeodorizing ingredients, and a hollow flexible part carried by thecover, and arranged so that air, gas or fumes, from the tab let, orevanescent material, or deodorizin g ingredients may escape or be forcedthrough the cover into the mouthpiece.

11. The combination, with the mouthpiece of a telephone or otherspeaking instrument,

of a disinfecting or deodorizing tablet, or lozenge formed of suchmaterial that it slakes or forms gases by the action of the air and soarranged within the mouthpiece as to permit air to circulate through,over and around said tablet or lozenge.

12. The combination, with the cover for a mouthpiece of a telephone orother speaking instrument; of a disinfecting or deodorizing tablet orlozenge formed of such material that it slakes or forms gases by theaction of the air, and so arranged in connection With the cover as topermit the gases or ingredients from the tablet or lozenge to escapeinto the mouthpiece.

WARREN H. TAYLOR.

Witnesses: I

OHAs. A. BERRY, WALTER O. ALLEN.

